PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):---  Dehydration occurs when your body loses more fluid than you take in. During warm weather conditions, you are very thirsty, and therefore it is very important to drink lots of water.

Since it’s the Carnival season with the majority of activities taking place outdoors including the grand parades etc., revellers and onlookers will need to take extra precautions to prevent dehydration.

When the body's normal water content is reduced, it upsets the balance of minerals (salts and sugars), which affects its function.

Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is advising the community to drink lots of water during the Carnival festive season and outdoor activities.

Dehydration is usually caused by insufficient fluids to replace what we lose. The climate with respect to very hot days, at the beach, the amount of physical exercise you are doing (particularly in hot weather) and your diet can contribute to dehydration.

Anyone can become dehydrated, but certain groups are particularly at risk. These include: babies and infants – they have a low body weight and are sensitive to even small amounts of fluid loss; older people – they may be less aware that they are becoming dehydrated and therefore need to keep drinking fluids; people with a long-term health condition – such as diabetes or alcoholism; and athletes – they can lose a large amount of body fluid through sweat when exercising for long periods.

Water makes up over two-thirds of the healthy human body. It lubricates the joints and eyes, aids digestion, flushes out waste and toxins, and keeps the skin healthy.

Some of the early warning signs of dehydration include feeling thirsty and lightheaded; a dry mouth; tiredness; having dark coloured, strong-smelling urine; and passing urine less often than usual.

A baby may be dehydrated if they: have a sunken soft spot (fontanelle) on their head; have few or no tears when they cry; have fewer wet nappies; and are drowsy.

The body is affected even when you lose a small amount of fluid.

CPS advises to drink lots of water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

Consult your physician if you think you or your child is dehydrated.

PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) urges the population, especially adults, parents, and guardians, to be aware that exposure to loud music can cause hearing damage, especially in young children. As such, it is important to protect them from loud pitches, tones, and, in general, overly loud music.

Avoid these as much as possible and avoid standing in close proximity to speakers of sound trucks.

Noise, like all sounds, is measured by the intensity and frequency of the sound waves that hit the ear. The unit used to measure the volume of sound is the decibel (dB). The greater the number of decibels, the louder the noise and the more harmful it is to the ears.

Environmental noise exposure, such as road traffic, aircraft, and/or sudden high-level noise, is associated with a range of health outcomes in children.

Children demonstrate annoyance responses to noise, and noise is also related to lower well-being and stress responses, such as increased levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Prolonged exposure can result in damage, which can be irreversible, and parents and guardians are advised to pay attention to this during the Carnival parade.

Hearing loss may be mild, moderate, severe, or profound. It can affect one or both ears and make it difficult to hear conversational speech or loud sounds.

CPS advises parents to monitor their children during Carnival activities and ensure that they don’t stand near speakers with loud music, as this could damage the child’s ears.

Please take the following steps to minimize the risks and protect your child from noise's physical and psychological effects: Ensure that he or she wears child-sized hearing protection, such as earplugs or earmuffs, during noisy activities and events. Limit the amount of time spent on noisy activities.

Instruct him or her to walk away from sources of loud noises. If your child routinely participates in noisy activities, such as playing an instrument or attending musical activities or sporting events, have his or her hearing tested.

For more information, call CPS at 542-1122, 542-1222, 542-1322, and 542-1570; or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

PHILIPSBURG--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is investigating an armed robbery earlier this afternoon at a store on Front Street.

Preliminary reports indicate that shortly after 4:30 PM, a group of men attempted to rob the establishment. Police personnel in the vicinity were promptly alerted to the ongoing incident. In response, detectives and additional officers were dispatched to locate the suspects.

A gray SUV associated with the suspects was identified on W.J.A. Nisbeth Road. Upon attempting to intercept the vehicle, the suspects tried to flee, damaging several other vehicles. Two suspects were apprehended at the scene. The vehicle involved has been confiscated for further investigation.

KPSM is actively pursuing additional suspects who are involved in this incident. The Traffic Department is also engaged due to the multiple vehicles damaged during the suspects' attempted escape.

KPSM urges anyone with information related to this incident to contact the police at ‪+1 (721) 542-2222‬ or anonymously via the Tip Line at 9300.

KPSM Press Release.

Willemstad/ Philipsburg:---  According to a study by the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten (CBCS), microcredit is a valuable financing tool for entrepreneurs in Curaçao.
However, its overall impact on economic development is limited. The findings suggest that better alignment between loan amounts, expenditure plans, and business potential, as well as more targeted support for borrowers after loan disbursement, can significantly improve outcomes. Streamlining the loan application process and offering more tailored and sustained guidance could better support the long-term growth of these microcredit businesses.
The research paper presents the first comprehensive mapping of the microcredit market for small businesses in Curaçao. It identifies key areas to improve the effectiveness of microcredit as a financial instrument. The study is based on interviews with representatives of lending institutions
and survey responses from clients who have received microloans in recent years. The survey explored the characteristics of entrepreneurs and businesses that have obtained microcredit and the conditions under which such loans are most successful.
Four institutions have offered microcredit in Curaçao since the 1990s, three of which remain active in this market segment today. Together, they extended 403 loans until June 2024.
The analysis highlights the crucial role of these institutions in providing microcredit to entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional financing, particularly those starting a business.
However, the findings also reveal that startups face greater challenges in repaying loans and achieving profit growth, underscoring the difficulties faced by new businesses in leveraging microcredit for sustained growth.
The data further indicates that while significant guidance is provided before loan disbursement, less attention is given to post-loan support, despite borrower feedback highlighting it as crucial for long-term success. Extending support beyond the initial loan phase and tailoring it to the type and growth stage of the business could significantly improve business outcomes.
Although the microcredit market is a relatively small segment of the financial sector in Curaçao, small businesses remain an important contributor to employment, economic activity, and innovation. This study emphasizes the significant untapped potential of microcredit. Improving and scaling up initiatives could reduce barriers to finance for small businesses and generate positive outcomes for the broader economy.
The CBCS extends its sincere appreciation to the participating institutions and borrowers for their valuable contributions to this research.

The research paper is available at: https://www.centralbank.cw/functions/research.

Willemstad, April 23, 2025
CENTRALE BANK VAN CURACAO EN SINT MAARTEN